Tanaka opts for rest over trip to Minnesota

BALTIMORE -- Right-hander Masahiro Tanaka has decided not to attend Tuesday's All-Star Game at Target Field, the Yankees announced on Saturday.

Tanaka is currently on the 15-day disabled list with a small tear in his right ulnar collateral ligament, and he's scheduled to begin a rehab program that the Yankees hope can get him back on a Major League mound in six weeks.

Manager Joe Girardi said that Tanaka, who issued a statement on Friday apologizing to the Yankees and their fans for the injury, would prefer to skip the trip to Minneapolis and focus on his rehabilitation.

"I think it's really unfortunate, because he had a great first half and he's not able to be a part of it," Girardi said. "But for some reason, I think he's going to get a chance to be a part of another one."

Tanaka, 25, was selected as an American League All-Star after going 12-4 with a 2.51 ERA in 18 starts. Following the injury, Red Sox manager John Farrell replaced Tanaka on the AL squad with Boston reliever Koji Uehara.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.